Expressing concern regarding recent actions of the federal
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and urging the EPA to
exercise restraint and moderation in its regulation of the
agriculture industry in this State and to strike a fair
balance between protecting the environment and the need to
maintain and expand opportunities for employment in the
agriculture industry.

Whereas, The West Virginia House of Delegates has great concern
over the EPA's continued assault on industry in our State; and

Whereas, West Virginia has faced an unprecedented attack on its
coal industry by the EPA; and now agriculture in West Virginia is
facing the same unwarranted scrutiny. The present attack is on the
poultry industry in our Eastern Panhandle, with statewide
implications for all agricultural operations; and

Whereas, According to the most recent West Virginia
Agricultural Statistics compiled by the National Agricultural
Statistics Service, West Virginia Bulletin, Vol. 42, 20ll, cash
receipts from farm sales of poultry and eggs was $240,886,000,
which was 48.6% of the cash receipts received from the sale of all
livestock products and crops ($495,624,000) in our state; and

Whereas, Poultry is big business to West Virginia and that
business is being threatened. One of many examples is incidental
dust in storm water. Under the Clean Water Act, agriculture storm
water is exempt. Therefore, rainfall around poultry houses that
comes in contact with incidental dust should not be regulated, as
it is not processed wastewater. Yet producers are being cited for
such. Surprise inspections and threats of daily fines in the amount
of $37,500 have many questioning whether or not they have a future
in agriculture; and

Whereas, The EPA continues to attempt to expand its control
over all industries, in clear violation of the Clean Water Act, and
persistently attempts to reissue guidelines and regulations which
are clearly outside their boundaries, placing undue burdens such as
those placed on the poultry industry in our State; therefore, be it

Resolved by the House of Delegates:

That the House hereby expresses its concern regarding recent
actions of the federal Environmental Protection Agency and urges
the EPA to exercise restraint and moderation in its regulation of
the agriculture industry in this State and to strike a fair balance
between protecting the environment and the need to maintain and
expand opportunities for employment in the agriculture industry;
and, be it

Further Resolved, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates is
hereby directed to forward a copy of this resolution to the
Governor and the federal Environmental Protection Agency.